A (Bigger) View From the Bridge: The Hamptons’ Art and Car Fair Doubles in Size for Its Sophomore Year

The open-air art fair and car show is a late summer favorite of the second home community.

Photo: courtesy of the Bridge.

The Hamptons’ boutique outdoor art fair the Bridge is preparing to return to Long Island for its second edition—this time, at double the size and with a new name.

While a number of Hamptons fairs have shut down in recent years due to rising competition and dipping demand, the Bridge has managed to grow. Now called the September Art Fair at the Bridge (after the Bridgehampton golf club that hosts the event), the fair has expanded from six dealers to 12 and added a number of international participants from cities ranging from Düsseldorf to St. Moritz.

The event, held from September 14 to 16 alongside the Bridge’s annual car show, will host a lineup including 303 Gallery, CANADA, Andrew Edlin Gallery, Karma, Johann König Gallery, Andrew Kreps Gallery, Marlborough Contemporary, Morán Morán, Vito Schnabel, Sies + Höke, Reyes Projects, and David Zwirner Gallery. An outdoor sculpture exhibition and live music performances will offer added inducement for visitors not interested in cars.

Photo: courtesy of the Bridge.

Instead of a booth, each dealer will display his or her wares inside a double-wide modified shipping container designed by Marlborough artist Lars Fisk. The containers will be erected in the dunes adjacent to the golf course’s 18th hole.

The event positions itself as the antithesis of an international mega-fair at a time when many are reporting a rise in fair fatigue. Instead of encouraging wealthy collectors with second homes in the Hamptons to travel to buy art, the September Art Fair brings the art right to their doorstep. (What better way to toast the last days of summer and the impending arrival of the fall season than… buying more art?)

The fair is a collaboration between Robert Rubin, who founded the Bridge golf club in 2002 and co-hosts the car show; Max Levai and Pascal Spengemann of Marlborough Contemporary; Suzanne Butler of CANADA; and Fisk.

Photo: courtesy of the Bridge.

“We use the term ‘fair’ for convenience sake,” Levai told artnet News. “A lot of the ideals and the way it’s handled is very different than the larger fairs, it’s much more casual and it’s designed to be easy and fun and something everyone involved can look forward to…. The idea is to build a party here and have like-minded people enjoy each other’s company and enjoy this beautiful site.”

The September Art Fair at the Bridge will be held from September 14 to 16 at 1180 Millstone Road in Bridgehampton, New York.


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